Cmdr. Wm. Greene is Chosen as ECC Alumnus of Year
Biography of William Greene, 1963 Alumnus of the Year. This and other articles may be found in the University Archives.
Citation for this article is: "Cmdr. Wm. Greene is Chosen as ECC Alumnus of Year," Daily Reflector, June 8, 1963.
Commander William M.A. Greene, U.S. Navy, native North Carolinian and 1943 graduate of East Carolina College, became his alma mater's 1963 Alumnus of the Year today when he received in absentia from the Alumni Association an award in recognition of his loyalty to the college and his distinguished career in the service of his country.
He is the twenty-first recipient of the award. President of the Alumni Association Fodie H. Hodges of Kinston announced the 1963 alumnus and presented the award to Jack Young of Ahoskie, a college roommate who represented Commander Greene.
An officer with 19 years of service in the U.S. Navy, Commander Greene assumed command April 20, 1963, of the USS Joseph Strauss when she was placed in commission at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. The Joseph Strauss will be the flagship of Commander Destroyer Squadron Three with home port at Long Beach, California.
A native North Carolinian, Commander Greene was born in Linville, N.C., the son of the late Carl B. and Naomi Gregg Greene. After high school graduation at Crossnore, he attended for a year Brevard Junior College, where he was president of the student body. In 1940 he entered East Carolina.
He established an outstanding record as a student at East Carolina before his graduation in 1943 with the B.S. degree. He was a member of the varsity football squad, served as President of the Men's Student Government Association, and was among a small group of students chosen to represent the college in the 1943 edition of the national yearbook "Who's Who among Students in American Universities and Colleges."
His career began with his enrollment in the Naval Reserve Midshipman School, Northwestern University, and his graduation there in 1943 with a commission as Ensign, USNR.
During World War II he was on duty on the USS Hanover and participated in the Okinawa Campaign and the occupation of Korea and Japan.
In 1946 he was appointed to the regular Navy. A major portion of his years in the Navy has been in destroyer-type ships, including the USS Tabberer, which he commanded.
Commander Greene has also served as personal aide to Commander, Amphibious Group Four and as an instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy.
In 1952-1954 he performed additional duty at the Academy as head coach of 150-pound football teams. His undefeated teams were champions of the Eastern Inter-Collegiate Football Conference both years.
More recently he served as personal aide to the superintendant, U.S. Naval Academy, with additional duty as secretary-treasurer and editor, U.S. Naval Institute at Annapolis.
For service in World War II he has been awarded the following medals: American Theater, Asiatic Pacific Theater with one Combat Star, China Service, Navy Occupational and World War II Victory; for Korean Service: The United Nations and Korean Service Medals.
In addition, he has been awarded two letters of commendation, one from the Chief of Naval Personnel for his work in connection with the Officers' Career Appraisal Program and another from the Chief of Naval Operations for his service at the U.S. Naval Institute.
In 1944 Commander Greene was married to the former Virginia Anne Cooke of Greenville, N.C. They have two children, Carolyn, age 11, and William, Jr., age 4. Commander Greene will be joined by his family at Long Beach in mid-July.
